19 people honoured

Some of the province’s unsung heroes were honoured Wednesday at Government House.

Lt.-Gov. Vaughn Solomon Schofield recognized 19 people at the Saskatchewan Emergency Medical Services Association’s Emergency Medical Services provincial awards.

“I think we really need to recognize our practitioners for the great work they do,” SEMSA president Gerry Schriemer said. “As in any career, there are always those that come to work, go home, that’s it. Then we have the group that works extremely hard, do extra activities to promote health care and promote care for their patients.”

He said many recipients are surprised to be honoured.

“We do this because of the love and passion of the job,” Schriemer said. “The recognition that the recipients receive is a bonus — they are proud of it, but (it’s) not an expectation. As an association, we need to recognize these people that go out of their way to do above and beyond (what’s expected of them).”

One of this year’s recipients was Kyle Parker. Last year, his quick thinking helped save a woman from imminent danger.

On the morning of May 13, 2012, Parker and his brother were heading to Last Mountain Lake to fish when they came across an overturned vehicle on the Ring Road with the driver still trapped inside.

Other people had stopped, but Parker, an off-duty EMT with the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region accustomed to dealing with emergencies, jumped into action.

Led by him, a group of Good Samaritans worked together to free the driver just minutes before the car burst into flames.

“Dealing with the fire and (seeing) it get bigger and bigger and closer, we wanted to get her out of there before anything else happened,” Parker said.

He then waited with the victim until EMS arrived.

“He did something not anyone else would do,” Schriemer said. “Parker stepped up that day and has made a difference in that individual’s life.”

Parker said he never expected any recognition for what he did that day, but was honoured to have received an award.

“It’s just something you do — it needs to be done,” Parker said, adding he’s thankful others gave help when it was needed.

Parker said the woman he saved is doing well and he’s stayed in touch with her family.

“They are fantastic,” Parker said. “They actually had me over for Thanksgiving dinner and it was good to see the family and good to see her.”